Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference

Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference

It has never been more fun to “Get Your Kicks, on Route 66”, than in Carlinville, for the upcoming Route 66 Conference. The Illinois Route 66 Blue Carpet Corridor is proud to present the 4th Annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference that will be held in Carlinville, Illinois, on Thursday-Sunday, October 25-28, 2018.

The primary venue for the conference is Blackburn College, northeast of Downtown Carlinville at University and Nicholas Streets, as well as Downtown Carlinville, on the Historic Square, the only complete roundabout on Route 66. The conference focuses on historic preservation, economic development, history, and marketing presented by an outstanding line-up of nationally known experts on Route 66.

CONFERENCE WEEKEND PACKAGE OVERVIEW: Conference attendees who arrive on Thursday, October 25, will have the opportunity to take local historic tours, both walking and via shuttle bus, on and around Route 66 leaving the Historic Square during the afternoon, visiting locations such as the Macoupin County “Million Dollar” Courthouse, the Macoupin County “Cannonball” Jail, the Sears Homes neighborhood, and more. On Thursday night everyone can meet up at the “Carlinville Crawl,” an evening enjoying food, beverages, and merchant specials at shops and establishments around Carlinville's Historic Square on Route 66.

Friday, October 26, and Saturday, October 27, feature daytime sessions that include presentations, panel discussions, and workshops. The final session on Saturday afternoon will feature the premiere of an original one-act play about the lives and work of women along Historic Route 66. One ticket to the play will be included with your conference registration. Single play admission tickets will be available for purchase closer to the conference.

On Friday evening, enjoy dinner with Route 66 friends new and old at the banquet, and then the concert/dance with the Robert Perry Band With the Original Mojos! Great food, cash bar, and the best oldies band in the area all in spacious Woodson Center on the Blackburn College campus! One ticket to this event will be included with your conference registration. Additional banquet/concert tickets can be purchased via the registration link. In Downtown Carlinville on Saturday evening, view Carlinville's traditional Halloween Parade with the special parade theme of “Get your kicks on Route 66!” Then, enjoy pizza and Italian cuisine at a Halloween costume party with special guest DJ at Reno's on the Historic Square.

JUST ANNOUNCED FOR SUNDAY - The Haunts of 66 - a morning after tour guided from Carlinville and back in search of mobsters, miners, murderers, ghosts and ghost roads, spirits and their haunts near the Mother Road. Presented by InSites To Go, with the Windy City Road Warrior. 9a-Noon. And, yes, you can show up wearing last night’s costume!

TOURISM PROFESSIONALS ONE-DAY SPECIAL OVERVIEW: Tourism industry staff and Route 66 business owners may opt for the Friday one-day “Essentials of Route 66 Tourism.” Enjoy the welcome breakfast and tourism-focused keynote, followed the rest of the day by the Tourism Track--high-level, detailed coverage of the key issues, strategies, challenges, tools, practical solutions, and opportunities facing Route 66 municipalities, counties, and businesses. Learning won't stop with the last Friday session; attendees of "Essentials of Route 66 Tourism” will take home with them a special resource package.

Be sure to visit the website soon, Route66MiliesofPossiblity.com to reserve your ticket to the best of Route 66 in Illinois and keen insights into Route 66 throughout the country!

For more information, contact Deb Young at CarlinvilleTours@gmail.com.